Wednesday, July 13, 2016

ZIKA VIRUS WON’T HAULT CATRIONA MATTHEW’S OLYMPIC AMBITIONS

NEWS RELEASE
It’s the first time that golf has been played in an Olympic Games in
over 100 years, but its introduction is being overshadowed by the
decision of some athletes – including high profile golfers Rory McIlroy
and Vijay Singh – not to attend.

They
have pulled out over fears of the Zika virus, which is spread by
mosquitoes and is linked to severe birth defects and neurological
problems in adults.

But
Catriona Matthew (46), who next week will play at the Aberdeen Asset
Management Ladies Scottish Open, says that while the virus is worrying,
it will not stop her from taking part in what may be her only shot at
appearing in an Olympic Games.

“I
have spoken to a few of the girls on the tour who are hoping to have
kids in the future, and it is certainly a concern for them,” she says.

“I
have had my family now and I do not plan on having any more children,
but if I was younger and I was at that stage in my life then I would
consider not going.

“It
wouldn’t surprise me if some of the younger female athletes decide to
pull out depending on what the reports are. However, there are new
reports coming out all the time and it’s hard to know what to believe.”

Before
jetting off to Rio, it’s no surprise that Scotland’s top female golfer
Catriona Matthew relishes the chance to play in her own back yard.

But
it’s not just the opportunity to play on the courses where she honed
her skills as a teenager that makes Scottish tournaments so appealing.

For Matthew it’s the chance to spend a few extra days with her young family before she packs her bags and boards another flight.

She’ll
be enjoying home comforts when she takes part in the Aberdeen Asset
Management Ladies Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in North Ayrshire
next month.

“It’s
very different now that I am a mum and both the girls are in school. I
used to travel so much, but now I never travel for longer than three
weeks at a time and then I make sure I’m home for two weeks,” says
Matthew, who is based in North Berwick.

“It’s
great to be able to come home and to play in Scotland: I guess everyone
enjoys any opportunity they can get to return home and play in their
own country. My time off is valuable because I can spend it with my
family.

“I
really enjoyed the layout of Dundonald last year, but how well you play
on any links course really comes down to the weather. If it’s not windy
it will be a great course, but if the wind picks up it will be a tough
test.”

Matthew,
who is an ambassador for Aberdeen Asset Management, won her Women’s
British Open title just 11 weeks after giving birth to her second
daughter, and the girls regularly travelled with her before they started
school.

Although
daughters Katie, aged nine, and seven-year-old Sophie now remain at
home, her husband, Graeme, is often with her on tour. A former scratch
golfer, Graeme is Matthew’s caddie – a role he has scaled back recently -
and will be alongside her at Dundonald from July 22 to 24.

She
hopes he’ll also be by her side when she embarks on one of the major
milestones of her 22-year professional career this summer. Matthew is a
shoo-in for one of the Team GB berths at the Rio Olympics, along with
English youngster Charley Hull.

Matthew’s
daughters and husband will be in Brazil - and she’ll join them in
watching some of the other sports in action – but she intends to soak up
the full Olympic experience by living in the athlete’s village.

Although
winning an Olympic gold medal is considered the pinnacle for many
athletes, Matthew admits that it is not her primary goal.

“I think that winning a gold medal would be up there, but winning a major would be ahead of it,” adds Matthew.

“However,
winning a gold medal would be fantastic: I watched the Olympics growing
up but as a golfer taking part was never my goal when my sport has not
been a part of it.”

The
2016 Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open takes place at
Dundonald Links on the West Coast of Scotland in North Ayrshire, from
22-24 July. The event now occupies a prime spot on the Ladies European
Tour calendar, sitting just one week ahead of the Women's British Open
and offers a prize fund of €500,000.

The
event's unique pro-am format sees 80 amateurs and celebrities tee it up
alongside a limited field of 80 of the top female golfers in the world.
The 54-hole tournament is played over three days and is the only annual
professional Ladies European Tour event in Scotland.

The event is free to attend with fun for all the family.

For more information visit www.ladiesscottishopen.com and follow @AberdeenLSO #AberdeenLSO